Adjustable worm drive



V G. A. WEI'DELY.

ADJUSTABLE WORMy DRIVE. APPLlcATloN r1L1ao1uNE11.1921.

1 ,47,904. A Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

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GEORGE A. WEIDELY, OI' INDIANAPOLIS, INIEIAN'A.`

AIDJUSTABLE 'WORM IIRIVE.

Specification of Letters Patent. l atented Feb. 28, 1922.

Application Med June 11, 1921. Serial Ro. 478,820.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. WEIDELY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Worm Drives, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to worm gear construction, and the prime feature of the invention is in so constructing the gear that it may be positioned laterally of the axis of the worm and at directright angles to the worm whereby the same radius will be maintained at all times between the teeth of the gear and worm at whatever adjustment the gear may be given towards the worm, consequently the wear between the parts,` of the gear and worm will be uniform at every point and the take-up between the two gears` will likewise be uniform.

A further-feature of the invention is in so constructing and mounting the gear with respect to the worm that the radial center of the teeth of the gear will be maintained with the radius of the teeth of the worm as` the gear is adjusted inwardly from time to time towards the worm to take up any wear that may occur between these parts.

A further feature ofthe invention is the construction, of means for easily and quickly adjusting the gear' towards or from the worm.

, A further feature of the inventionis the provision of means for holding the adjustin means for the ear in'fxed position.

ther objects am? advantages will be hereinafter more fully set forth and pointed out in the accompanying specification.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figu steering column as used in connection with motor propelled vehicles with my improved mechanism a plied thereto,

Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof as j seen on line 2 2, Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view as seen on "line ,3-3, Figure 2, said section beinguat right angles tothe section shown in ure 2.

' Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a j steering post which may be of any preferred` y d through the medium of a latch 9 which 1s type to which is secured a worm 2, sai

ivoted-between ears 10 on parts of the.

worm being of the conventional or.. any prev re 1 is an elevation of a portion of a customary to place the gear co-operating with the worm in such position that a line drawn through the center of the gear transversely of its axis would intersect the axial.

center of the worm, and with the teeth so arranged upon the gear as to form the radial axis ofthe teeth at the transverse Lcenter of the gear. In constructions of this class it is necessary to throw the gear off center with the shaft upon which it is mounted in order to adjust it towards the worm, and afterv considerable wear the teeth of the gear would become out of radial alignment with the radius of the teeth of the worm, consequently causing lost motion.

To overcome these objectionable features the gear 3 carried by a stub shaft 4 is of such a diameter as to extend a distance above the lower peripheral edge of theworm 2, and while the gear 3 is directly at ri ht angles to the worm 2 it rests substantial y at a tangent to the axis of the worm, consequentlv the teeth 5 on the gear 3 are arranged in one edge of the periphery of the gear and rest at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the gear and are eut substantiall on the same arc as the arc of the teeth on t e worm. By arranging the gear 3 and the teeth 5 in this manner the gear may be moved bodily towards the worm and .1n a straight line with the axis of the shaft 4 to take up any wear or play that may result from usage,- and as they top edges of the teeth 5 at their lowermost pointsare substantially in alignment with the innermost edges of the teeth of the worin a very minute adjustment of the gear may be accomplished, and a continued adjustment may be had until the utility of the gear or worm is entirely destroyed.

Any suitable means maybe employed for the gear 3 towards the worm 2,

but in -troduced around one .end of the shaft 4, and 'is exterior] threaded for engagement with an interior y threaded collar of a housing 8, said housing surrounding the gear 'an worm and being formied in sections and bolted together so that the worm and gear may be readily assembled. After the sleeve has been rotated to 'properly adjust thegear 3 it may be locked kin its adjusted position ousi 8,-the free end ofthe latch engaging notches 11 in the periphery of the sleeve 6.

i A clamping bolt 12 forms the pivot for the latch 9 and also clamps the ears 10 together to hol-d the latch 9 against casual swlnging 'movement The notches 11 will also serve justments may be given the gear 3 for taking up any wear or lost play until the gears are entirely worn out, while wlth the ordinary woringear construction only a certain .degree of adjustment may be had as the adjust ing power is limited, consequently 1n the present construction a great saving .1n cost of replacement is accompllshed and likewise a great' saving of time andl expense 1n .making adjustments by employing the simple form of adjustingmechanlsm, as shown.

In addition to the above'advantages the gear is always maintained in` the same rela- -tive alignment with respect `to the worm,

consequently the operation of the 'worm and gear mechanism will be perfect throughout the life or use of the mechanism.

vIt will likewise be understood that a1- though the worm and gear are shown as used in connection with a steering mechanism for motor propelled vehicles, it will be equally applicable for other uses, and without necessitating the rearranging or changino' of any of the parts. 0

aving thus fully described my said 1nvention, what I claim as newl and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A wormgear construction comprising a worm, a gear co-operating therewith, and

means for adjusting the gear laterally to the axial trend of thereon.

2. A worm gear construction comprising a worm, a ar for co-,operation with said worm, sai angles to and laterally of the axial center the worm for taking up wear of the worm, and means for adjusting said l gear being positioned at right gear towards the worm .without changing the axial position of the gear or worm.

3.4 A worm gear construction comprisin a worm, a gear for co-operation with said worm, teeth on said gear arranged at an angle to the axis of the gear and curved from end to end at a radius corresponding to the radius of the worm, and means for moving said gear transversely to the axis of the worm for adjusting the gear with respect to the worm. A

4. In a worm -gear construction, a shaft upon which said worm is mounted, a second \shaft at right -anglesto the worm carryin shaft, a gear mounted on the second sha t and adapted to partially overlap the worm, teeth in` one edge face of 'said gear at the same radius as the teeth of the worm, and

means-for moving said gear transversely of the path of the worm for adjusting the gear with respect to the worm. l

5. In a worm gear construction, a worm, a gearco-operating with said worm, a shaft carrying said gear, a sleeve mounted on said shaft adapted to adjust the gear towards the worm when rotated, and means for causing the sleeve to 'l move towards the gear when rotated in one direction.

6. In a worm gear construction, a worm, a gear co-operating with said worm, a shaft carryin said gear, a sleeve mounted on said shaft Vav apted to adjust the gear towards the worm when rotated, means for causing the sleeve to move towards the gear when rotated in one direction, and meansfor locking the sleeve in its adjusted position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 8th day'of June, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty-one.

GEORGE A. WEiDELY. [a a] Witnesses: l

ROBERT F. Mmmm, CAREY S. FRYE. 

